Policy’s influence on circular packaging will be in sharp focus at ReGen 2025, with a dedicated panel session taking place on Thursday 24 July. Speakers from APCO, Planet Protector Group, and Cercle will join forces to explore how regulation and real-world practice are shaping the future of sustainable packaging.
The session, titled Delivering products to market – how policy and practice can deliver packaging circularity, will look closely at how circular design principles are being applied in packaging innovation – and what policy settings could help broaden their reach.
Moderated by Renata Daudt, founder of AWEN Packaging Consulting, the discussion will bring together Lars Ljung, chief operating officer at Planet Protector Group; Peter Brisbane, government partnership lead at the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO); and Patrick Manley, co-founder of circular systems company Cercle.
The panel will delve into how current policy, local and global, is either supporting or stalling the shift to circular systems. They'll also identify where the regulatory and infrastructure gaps lie, and share concrete examples where legislation has played a direct role in the development or rollout of circular packaging solutions.
One area of focus will be the relationship between policy, design, and recovery infrastructure specifically, how these can work together more effectively to support the journey from packaging concept to end-of-life recovery.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes will also be in the spotlight. The panel will examine their real-world impact on circularity and explore what changes could make these schemes work better for businesses and the environment alike.
Speakers will reflect on how companies are juggling functionality, brand requirements and sustainability within their designs, particularly in the context of complex or shifting policy demands. The session will round out with a look at emerging practices and evolving policies that could open the door to real change across the industry.
The panel runs from 12:45 to 13:30 on the ReGen Circularity Stage. To register, click here.
